18) Arbitration.
MANDATORY ARBITRATION PROVISION AND CLASS ACTION AND JURY TRIAL
WAIVERS (“Arbitration Provision”)
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY, THIS AFFECTS AND LIMITS YOUR RIGHTS
a) Any claim, dispute or controversy ("Claim") arising from, connected with, or related to the Agreement, the NHBA Program, any documents relating to the NHBA Program, the NHBA Fees, or the validity or scope of this Arbitration Provision (whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation, or any other legal theory), including any dispute with third parties, shall be governed by this Arbitration Provision. Upon the election of Client(s) or NHBA, by written notice to the other party, any Claim shall be resolved by arbitration before a single arbitrator, on an individual basis, without resort to any form of class action (“Class Action Waiver”), pursuant to this Arbitration Provision and the applicable rules of
the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") in effect at the time the Claim is filed. Any arbitration hearing shall take place in the county and state where Client(s) maintains his or her residence or in which Client(s) executed the Agreement. At the written request of Client(s), any filing and administrative fees charged or assessed by the AAA, which are required to be paid by Client(s) and that are in excess of any filing fee Client(s) would have been required to pay to file a Claim in that state's court shall be advanced and paid for by NHBA. NHBA shall also pay amounts that the arbitrator determines that NHBA must pay in order to assure the enforceability of this Arbitration Provision. IF ARBITRATION IS CHOSEN BY ANY PARTY WITH RESPECT TO A CLAIM, NEITHER CLIENT(S) OR NHBA WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE THAT CLAIM IN COURT OR HAVE A JURY TRIAL ON THAT CLAIM, OR TO ENGAGE IN PRE-ARBITRATION DISCOVERY, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE APPLICABLE ARBITRATION RULES. FURTHER, CLIENT(S) WILL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OR MEMBER OF ANY CLASS OF CLAIMANTS PERTAINING TO THAT CLAIM AND CLIENT(S) WILL HAVE ONLY THOSE RIGHTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN AN INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION. THE ARBITRATOR'S DECISION WILL BE FINAL AND BINDING ON ALL PARTIES, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT ("the FAA"). This Arbitration Provision shall be governed by the FAA, and, if and where applicable, the internal laws of the State of residence of the Client(s). If any portion of this Arbitration Provision is deemed invalid or unenforceable, it shall not invalidate the remaining portions of this Arbitration Provision, provided however that, if the Class Action Waiver is deemed invalid or unenforceable, then this Arbitration Provision shall be null and void and of no force or effect. Judgment on any award may be entered by any appropriate court having jurisdiction. Unless applicable law or arbitration rule provides otherwise, the arbitrator may not award punitive or exemplary damages
against any party.
b) As an exception to the arbitration requirement, both parties retain the right to seek relief in a small claims court (or a state court equivalent) for a Claim within the scope of its jurisdiction, so long as the small claims action does not seek to certify a class, combine the claims of multiple persons, recover damages in excess of the limit for a small claim under applicable state law or is not transferred, removed, or appealed from small claims court to any different court.
c) If either Client(s) or NHBA has submitted a Claim to the AAA which the AAA refuses to entertain, Client(s) and NHBA shall nevertheless resolve such Claim by arbitration. For a period of thirty (30) days after notice of such refusal, the parties shall in good faith attempt to agree on the selection of an individual arbitrator to arbitrate the Claim. The arbitrator shall be independent, neutral and qualified with experience in matters such as raised by the Claim and shall have no pre-existing relationship with any of the parties. The applicable rules of the AAA shall be applicable to the arbitration of the Claim. If the parties are unable to agree on the arbitrator within thirty (30) days following the rejection of the Claim by AAA, then on application by either party to a Court of competent jurisdiction with notice to the
other party, the Court shall select such successor arbitrator. Except for the reference to arbitration by the AAA in the foregoing paragraph, all the other terms and provisions thereof will be applicable to such arbitration by the arbitrator selected.
d) You may reject this Arbitration Provision within thirty days of entering into the Agreement by sending us a letter addressed to Quest Capital Management Inc. d/b/a National Home Buyers Alliance (“NHBA”), 15482 College Blvd, Lenexa, KS 66219. Your communication rejecting arbitration must use words to convey your decision to reject the Arbitration Provision. The communication must also include your name and address. Please retain a copy of the communication you send.